Well Designed Software is Crucial to Productivity Improvement

Applications that incorporate elements like search, networking, easy navigation and individualization are what people are now demanding in the workplace.

Friday, May 16, 2008
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Business applications are not that easy to use according to a story by IFS. Only 1 in 5 cited business applications used in the workplace as easy to use -- well behind the web and email applications (27%).

Survey respondents were asked to identify the top three causes of wasted time when using enterprise software. Top of the list was learning to use different modules and applications (20%), searching for relevant information held in the application (19%) came second and difficulties moving through business processes that are not grouped together or ordered in a logical way (14%) was third.

"One of the key reasons for installing enterprise software is to simplify the running of business processes so that decision making can be improved," IFS CEO Alastair Sorbie said. "Well-designed business applications that incorporate elements like search, networking, easy navigation and individualization are what people are now demanding in the workplace -- based on their personal use of the web. Organizations who respond have the opportunity to remove frustrating time-wasters for staff involved at all stages, providing opportunities for them to be more productive both individually and collectively. Improved usability really can make a difference to the company's revenue, making the employees more efficient and productive because it's easier to do the job."

Survey respondents were also frustrated by the time wasted dealing with difficulties in transferring data between systems (13%) and navigating around and between different applications (11%).

"Ninety four percent of the IT professionals surveyed readily identified areas where business applications take longer to perform specific tasks than they should," Sorbie said. "Bringing features and functions common in consumer websites into the business world was a way respondents identified as being able to save time. Business software buyers should be looking for applications that have incorporated such features into their application design now."

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